2025-2026 College Football Thread

[Moviefan1203]

Source - http://espn.go.com/college-football/...re-source-says

Arizona is close to announcing it has hired former West Virginia and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, a source told ESPN's Joe Schad.

Arizona (3-8, 2-7 Pac-12) fired Mike Stoops last month after struggling to a 1-5 start.

Rodriguez coached Michigan from 2008-2010 and West Virginia from 2001-2007. Rodriguez posted a 60-26 record at West Virginia, finishing first in the Big East four times.

Rodriguez was 15-22 at Michigan, including 6-18 in Big Ten play, before being dismissed.

Just before the 2009 season, anonymous Michigan players told the Detroit Free Press that the Rodriguez-led program was exceeding NCAA limits on practice and training time.

The school later acknowledged that it was guilty of four violations. It was put on three years of probation, though Rodriguez and the school avoided major penalties in part because the NCAA agreed that the coach didn't fail to promote an atmosphere and compliance in his program.

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Source - http://espn.go.com/college-football/...re-source-says

Rich Rod was a DISASTER in Ann Arbor...Good Riddance, enjoy the desert.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

The elimination of all the Bowl games and just having an 8 team playoff. I don't care about any of the Bowl games as it is (other than the Title game). I'm caring about them even less with an 8 team playoff. In a nutshell I see them as exhibition games and I'm assuming most fans do as well. I could certainly be wrong but with the elimination of all those useless Bowl games would it not hit the NCAA in the wallet?

I'm fine with keeping the bowl games. If bowl games were not making money we wouldn't have them, so keep them as far as I care.

Just have an 8 team, preferably 16 team tournament for the championship and just keep the other bowl games for teams that don't make the tournament. If it makes them happy they can even keep the names for the major bowl games. Call the national semifinals the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl, etc.

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I'm fine with keeping the bowl games. If bowl games were not making money we wouldn't have them, so keep them as far as I care.

Just have an 8 team, preferably 16 team tournament for the championship and just keep the other bowl games for teams that don't make the tournament. If it makes them happy they can even keep the names for the major bowl games. Call the national semifinals the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl, etc.

If money isn't standing in the way, then WTF is the problem with these people? The way it is now is a JOKE, Chad...end o story. Would you agree?

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

If money isn't standing in the way, then WTF is the problem with these people? The way it is now is a JOKE, Chad...end o story. Would you agree?

Well a big part of the problem is these "bowl committees." Every bowl game has executives who make a crapload of money (high 6 to 7 figures) for doing very little. The Fiesta Bowl executives are infamous for their corruption and looting the system. These executives also tend to have good relationship with university bigwigs and politicians who they buy off. The whole thing is one big racket and the NCAA really doesn't do much to crack down on the corruption. They're more concerned about stopping players from accepting free tattoos or free lunches than cracking down on bowl executives looting the system of millions of dollars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiesta_...ncial_scandals

Sports Illustrated alleged in November 2010 that Fiesta Bowl officials, including bowl CEO John Junker, spent $4 million since 2000 to curry favor from BCS bigwigs and elected officials, including a 2008 "Fiesta Frolic", a golf-centered gathering of athletic directors and head coaches. The journal also reported that Junker's annual salary was close to $600,000 and that the bowl, in 2007 turned an $11.6 million profit at the same time that 106 of 120 Division I-A athletic departments were running a deficit.

In 2009, prior to the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, past and present Fiesta Bowl employees alleged that they were encouraged to make directed campaign contributions which were subsequently reimbursed. If true, this would be a violation of both state and Federal campaign finance laws. Furthermore, as a non-profit organization, the Fiesta Bowl is prohibited from making political contributions, of any kind, and from hiring lobbyists. The Fiesta Bowl commissioned an "independent review" which found "no credible evidence that the bowl's management engaged in any type of illegal or unethical conduct." On March 29, 2011, the results of a "scathing internal report" commissioned by the Fiesta Bowl board of directors were released. The report, 276 pages and with more than 1500 footnotes, was posted on the Fiesta Bowl's website. The commission determined that $46,539 of illegal campaign contributions were made and the board immediately fired Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker, who had already been suspended pending the results of this investigation. The scandal threatened the Fiesta Bowl's status as a BCS game, as the BCS said it might drop the bowl from its lineup if officials could not convince them it should remain.

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Well a big part of the problem is these "bowl committees." Every bowl game has executives who make a crapload of money (high 6 to 7 figures) for doing very little. The Fiesta Bowl executives are infamous for their corruption and looting the system. These executives also tend to have good relationship with university bigwigs and politicians who they buy off. The whole thing is one big racket and the NCAA really doesn't do much to crack down on the corruption. They're more concerned about stopping players from accepting free tattoos or free lunches than cracking down on bowl executives looting the system of millions of dollars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiesta_...ncial_scandals

Thanks Chad...the explanation is much appreciated. I find it unfathonable that this prestigious Title isn't determined in the trenches with a playoff format.

[fatediesel]

I think Rich Rod could be a good hire but Arizona is going to have to be patient. It's going to take at least 2-3 years for Rich Rod to get the players in to run his system, and it's likely he's going to have a couple 4 win seasons at the start of his tenure. That wasn't acceptable at Michigan but I could see Arizona having the patience to give him time to build a winner. He needs to get a good defensive coordinator though because defense was his problem at Michigan.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I think Rich Rod could be a good hire but Arizona is going to have to be patient. It's going to take at least 2-3 years for Rich Rod to get the players in to run his system, and it's likely he's going to have a couple 4 win seasons at the start of his tenure. That wasn't acceptable at Michigan but I could see Arizona having the patience to give him time to build a winner. He needs to get a good defensive coordinator though because defense was his problem at Michigan.

Yep, I still think had he really been given time at UM he'd have got it sorted out.

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

Thanks Chad...the explanation is much appreciated. I find it unfathonable that this prestigious Title isn't determined in the trenches with a playoff format.

Your avatar makes it REALLY difficult to read your posts.

Who is that a pic of, and why is his face reduced to hamburger?

TLK

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

Your avatar makes it REALLY difficult to read your posts.

Who is that a pic of, and why is his face reduced to hamburger?

TLK

It's a pic of former Toronto Maple Leaf defenseman, "Borje Salming". He was cut by a skate during a game and it took 200+ stitches (most were inside his face) to sew his face back together.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

Your avatar makes it REALLY difficult to read your posts:

As does yours!!

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

As does yours!!

I need to change it to a pic of Layla Kiffin.

TLK

P.S. Lane Kiffin is one helluva coach. I understand now why Knoxville went batshit crazy after he left. You all knew what you were losing!

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

P.S. Lane Kiffin is one helluva coach. I understand now why Knoxville went batshit crazy after he left. You all knew what you were losing!

I always felt he was a better coach then the situations he went into, @ UT he beat SC, UGA, and almost beat BAMA, and UF...

Same with the Raiders I felt like if he had been able to do what he wanted they might have improved even more.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

P.S. Lane Kiffin is one helluva coach. I understand now why Knoxville went batshit crazy after he left. You all knew what you were losing!

I can't believe the job Kiffin has done with that USC team this season. If they weren't on probation Barkley would be getting a lot more Heisman chatter.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I'm fine with keeping the bowl games. If bowl games were not making money we wouldn't have them, so keep them as far as I care.

Just have an 8 team, preferably 16 team tournament for the championship and just keep the other bowl games for teams that don't make the tournament. If it makes them happy they can even keep the names for the major bowl games. Call the national semifinals the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl, etc.

The thing is, you could have the bowl games serve as part of the playoffs. You could have the mid-major bowls host the early rounds of the playoffs and the major bowls host the later rounds. Why couldn't you have a 16 team playoff and then teams who don't make the playoffs play in the crappy bowls?

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

The thing is, you could have the bowl games serve as part of the playoffs. You could have the mid-major bowls host the early rounds of the playoffs and the major bowls host the later rounds. Why couldn't you have a 16 team playoff and then teams who don't make the playoffs play in the crappy bowls?

Fans can make travel plans for ONE bowl game, especially when they have about a month to make said plans. It's a much harder task to have them make travel plans for another game a week later, especially if they don't know if they'll win and survive for the following week's game.

If the NCAA is to get serious about a playoff, it's going to have to be structured like the NFL -- the higher seed plays at home and the lower seed plays on the road. THEN give fans at least TWO WEEKS to plan for ONE trip to the NCG for all the marbles.

TLK

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I can't believe the job Kiffin has done with that USC team this season. If they weren't on probation Barkley would be getting a lot more Heisman chatter.

They'll be on probation for the next two years, too. I'm sure you meant "bowl-ineligible," instead of "on probation."

Lots of ifs for four juniors coming back, or not -- Matt Barkley, Matt Kalili, Nick Perry, and T.J. McDonald. If 2/4 of them return, USC is going to make a NC run in 2012, sanctions be damned. You heard it here first.

TLK

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I always felt he was a better coach then the situations he went into, @ UT he beat SC, UGA, and almost beat BAMA, and UF...

Same with the Raiders I felt like if he had been able to do what he wanted they might have improved even more.

He fought Al Davis tooth and nail about not wanting to draft JaMarcus Russell with the #1 overall pick in the 2007 draft. As we all know, Al got his way, and was proven wrong in hindsight (RIP Al).

TLK

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

They'll be on probation for the next two years, too. I'm sure you meant "bowl-ineligible," instead of "on probation."

Hence why I said probation Lizard.

They can't play in a bowl game and have a scholarship reduction. Just imagine what Kiffin will be able to do when the sanctions are gone, you guys will back to winning national championships.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

He fought Al Davis tooth and nail about not wanting to draft JaMarcus Russell with the #1 overall pick in the 2007 draft. As we all know, Al got his way, and was proven wrong in hindsight (RIP Al).

TLK

Yep, I feel like if he really gets at least 5 more years he'll have USC back in a championship game.